Fall-out from feud
Feuding neighbours can do a lot of damage to buildings – in more ways than one – and ironically, innocent parties can be left holding the bill. QUESTION: We bought…
Past Posts
These posts go all the way back to the raw versions of my Flat Chat columns for the Sydney Morning Herald’s Domain section over th e past 15 years. Some of the issues are specific to New South Wales, some are universal. There will almost certainly be differences in strata law between NSW and other states and countries and the laws have changed over that timespan too.
If you have a serious problem, contact the agencies (in Australia) listed in our contacts sections. Or contact a properly qualified and experienced strata lawyer. These columns should not be regarded as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Screwed over bookshelf
QUESTION: My landlord won’t let us drill holes in the wall for bookshelves so I went out and bought a free-standing book case. Getting it home, I realised it has…
Firies hold the key
The great thing about modern high-rise apartments, for older people especially, is that they can be very secure. But what about when you WANT someone who doesn’t have a key…
Muscle man driving us mad
They say a healthy body means a healthy mind … but not if the person getting fit is driving you nuts. QUESTION: A neighbour has installed gym and weights equipment…
Grubs need not apply
A new survey of housemates into what annoys us most about our “roomies” reveals that lazy grubs who don’t help with cleaning are most likely to attract frequent Post-it Notes…
Playing the loyalty card
What price loyalty in an apartment block? Is it a community or is it a business? And can you afford to let relationships rule over dollars and cents? QUESTION: I’m…
You just don’t get it
QUESTION: I can’t believe the people who live around me. They are always complaining that my music is on too late (after 10 at night!), the TV’s too loud or…
Flat Screen Fever
We received an email the other day that echoed the findings of the UNSW’s recent survey into the most common gripes in strata living. Right at the top, was the…
Bikie in the bedroom
QUESTION: My flatmate has hooked up with this rough biker type who has moved into her room permanently. He doesn’t work, can’t pay rent, smokes, plays loud music, drinks too…
Low levies lurk
Levies are generally pretty fair: the more valuable your apartment, roughly, the more you pay … unless the developer decided selling premium apartments was easier with lower levies attached. QUESTION:…
Short term gain
QUESTION: What do I need to be aware of if planning to rent out an apartment as a short term rental? I am thinking of purchasing a unit for partial…
Pros (and cons) on EC
They need no training in, knowledge of or even interest in the law that governs their actions, yet they are controlling budgets that can run to several million dollars per…